Direct synthesis of methyl N-phenylcarbamate (MPC) from carbon dioxide (CO2), aniline and methanol catalyzed by cerium dioxide (CeO2) in the presence of n-butyllithium (BuLi) was developed. The catalytic activity of CeO2 was significantly improved by the addition of BuLi. The conversion of aniline and the yield of MPC were dependent on the amount of CeO2 and BuLi, reaction conditions including the pressure of CO2, reaction time and temperature, and 9.4% yield of MPC was obtained under the optimized conditions. The formation pathway of MPC was a...
